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New frameworks might make our work easier, but companies don't typically respond by employing fewer developers. Instead, they ask for bigger and larger projects

New frameworks might make our work easier, but companies don't typically respond by employing fewer developers. Instead, they ask for bigger and larger projects. As for people actually learning to code, I don't actually think there's much risk of increased supply. The majority of people simply cannot think in the logical manner programming requires. They might learn a couple bits here and there, but they'll never be employed as engineers. (I've seen this myself with people who've taken months of classes—ask them to compute a program and they're still incapable.) Put simply, CS is hard. That's why, despite the general awesomeness of our careers, so few people major in it. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/04/students-majoring-in-computer-science-trends_n_4213769.html?utm_hp_ref=college http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/04/students-majoring-i...)

cgh 13y ago
I know it's a cliche, but I do think there's a difference between the lone high school weirdo who stayed up late learning Commodore 64/Apple IIe/386/whatever internals and the person who learned how to program adequately well at university in order to get a "good career". I hesitate to use the word "passion" but you know what I mean. Anyway, the long and the short of it is it's the weirdos who are in short supply and I can't imagine why that would change anytime soon.
- mirsadm 13y ago
  That really applies to most other fields. Some people are just bad at their job. Some people are good and some are amazing.
pedalpete 13y ago
My suspicion was that larger projects done with better tools results in near equal amount of time invested. Everything you say could be right, I still struggle to understand how people who call themselves programmers can't do fizzbuzz, but one of the great things about being a programmer is that you don't have to go to University and get a degree (I didn't), so I don't think the linked article really provides much input. Interesting read though.

cgh 13y ago

I know it's a cliche, but I do think there's a difference between the lone high school weirdo who stayed up late learning Commodore 64/Apple IIe/386/whatever internals and the person who learned how to program adequately well at university in order to get a "good career". I hesitate to use the word "passion" but you know what I mean. Anyway, the long and the short of it is it's the weirdos who are in short supply and I can't imagine why that would change anytime soon.

mirsadm 13y ago
That really applies to most other fields. Some people are just bad at their job. Some people are good and some are amazing.

pedalpete 13y ago

My suspicion was that larger projects done with better tools results in near equal amount of time invested. Everything you say could be right, I still struggle to understand how people who call themselves programmers can't do fizzbuzz, but one of the great things about being a programmer is that you don't have to go to University and get a degree (I didn't), so I don't think the linked article really provides much input. Interesting read though.